8 Pentecost July 31

GATHERING SONG “Alleluia! Jesus is Risen” #377

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, abounding in steadfast love toward us,

healing the sick and raising the dead, showering us with every good gift. Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Just and gracious God,

we come to you for healing and life.

Our sins hurt others and diminish us; we confess them to you.

Our lives bear the scars of sin; we bring these also to you.

Show us your mercy, O God. Bind up our wounds, forgive us our sins, and free us to love,

for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

The apostle Paul assures us:

"When we were dead in our trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ,

nailing the record of our sins to the cross." Jesus says to you, + "Your sins are forgiven."

Be at peace, and tell everyone how much God has done for you. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Benevolent God, you are the source, the guide, and the goal of our lives. Teach us to love what is worth loving, to reject what is offensive to you, and to treasure what is precious in your sight, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Psalm: 49:1–12

Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you who dwell in the world,

you of high degree and low, rich and poor together.

My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and my heart shall meditate on understanding.

I will incline my ear to a proverb and set forth my riddle up on the harp.

Why should I be afraid in evil days, when the wickedness of those at my heels surrounds me,

the wickedness of those who trust in their own prowess, and boast of their great riches?

One can never redeem another, or give to God the ransom for another's life;

for the ransom of a life is so great that there would never be enough to pay it,

in order to live forever and ever and never see the grave.

For we see that the wise die also; and leave their wealth to those who come after them.

Their graves shall be their homes forever, their dwelling places from generation to generation, though they had named lands after themselves.

Even though honored, they cannot live forever; they are like the beasts that perish.

Epistle Reading: Colossians 3:1–11

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things — anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all! Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: Luke 12:13–21, 32

The holy gospel according to Saint Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.

Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'You fool! This

very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."

Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON “Take Care!” Pastor Phil Wold

HYMN OF THE DAY “How Firm a Foundation” #796

APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

THE OFFERING AND OFFERING PRAYER

Let us pray. God of all creation, all you have made is good, and your love endures forever. You bring forth bread from the earth and fruit from the vine. Nourish us with these gifts, that we might be for the world signs of your gracious presence in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE SERVICE OF PRAYERS FOR HEALING

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

Let us pray for all who suffer, all in pain or grief or any kind of affliction…

O, God, grant your healing through Jesus Christ, truly our hope is in you!

Let us pray for recovery from sickness, that God may grant healing and wholeness…

O, God, grant your healing through Jesus Christ, truly our hope is in you!

Let us pray for healing in our communities, between nations, among peoples, within families…

O, God, grant your healing through Jesus Christ, truly our hope is in you!

Let us pray for all those who depend upon our prayers…

O, God, grant your healing through Jesus Christ, truly our hope is in you!

Father in heaven, for Jesus’ sake, send your Holy Spirit upon your servants,

drive away all sickness of body and spirit; make whole that which is broken;

deliver us from the power of evil; and preserve us in true faith, to share in the power

of Christ’s resurrection and to serve you with all the saints now and evermore. Amen

THE SIGN OF PEACE IS SHARED

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

NOISY OFFERING

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,

thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,

forever and ever. AMEN

BLESSING

SENDING SONG “God of Tempest and God of Whirlwind” #400

SENDING

Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.